I've seen this movie a couple dozen times at least, and will watch it again and again. It's without doubt my favorite film of all time. This is one that I can enjoy alone and knowing the plot and end as well as I do, I still see it unfold as though it was my first time. It's more of an experience and I love that final scene. Everything you hit upon was spot on with my assessment. It truly taps into the unknown depths of the human mind. No one really knows what they are capable of given the right conditions. We'd all like to think we're above such behavior, but truth be known, no one is completely immune. Excellent review!
8. Mind over Mayhem 7. Lovely but lethal 6. Candidate for Crime 5. Publish or Perish 4. Swan Song 3. Double Exposure 2. A friend in Deed 1. Any Old Port in a Storm
EXCELLENT REVIEW! I feel just as you so about (always) unneeded sex & profanity - but at 68 I'm likely twice your age, so it's extra cool coming from you.
Surely you've seen Trevor Howard with Celia Johnson in Lean's 1945 'Brief Encounter' exquisite love story (Celia got an Oscar nod). *Avoid '74 Burton-Loren remake🤢.*
10:35 Rigor Mortis sets in, then fades. Worse by far, decomposing would have made moving a body, never mind dressing it, difficult; and the odor may well have been sickening to debilitation.
6:03 Ray Milland 'narrating' his villainy😠 fits that famed film adage: *SHOW, DON'T TELL!* ...also Brad Dillman's *hair* wtf? Miss Clairol 1972? Were they trying to 'dumb down' his good looks!?
11:30 It seems pretty obvious to me that he was entirely unaware that the temperatures at that time of year could get high enough to spoil the wine, which is why he's dissapointed to find that it's not a record in the ending. Honestly I had assumed that the episode takes place in Early Spring or Late Fall so that the oversight was much more understandable. In that case, by turning the air conditioning off he would have made the room air tight without raising its temperature enough to effect the wine. I just wish there was a comment from Columbo maybe offhandedly at some point that he could smell cleaning fluids or something in the basement to explain how the entire place isn't totally stunk out by the corpse.
I've always liked this movie, however, I agree with the reviewer about the ending. It's frustrating and all it did was make me write off Mitchum's character as a loser. There is nothing idyllic or romantic about "living" and wandering about, outdoors. You, and everything you own is always filthy, until it rains, and then you and your things are wet and muddy. Then there's wind. Or a thunderstorm with nowhere to hide. After years It would be hell on earth. Instead of looking like Deborah Kerr, you'd look like Grandma Moses. Forcing your family to endure that life is selfish loserville. And, to lose all hope because of your degenerate gambling....pathetic.
There are a lot of plot holes in the movie, so the north stairwell was filed with smoke, and if the south stairwell had its door not able to open, why not go down one flight in the north and run over to the south? The scenic elevator itself supposedly had a metal safety bar that encircled the interior and the blonde who fell against, causing the glass to pop out would've broke her back if her body's impact also broke the bar. And it appears some characters like the fire chief and Harry Jernigan seem to have carte blanche to go wherever they want to in the building regardless where the fire is. And also the helicopter that lifted the fire chief to the scenic elevator, wouldn't its blade cut into the side of the building if it need to deposit him on top of the elevator?
What happened? Where are the other seasons? I subscribe to your channel, upon discovering this wonder review of one of my favorite series EVER, and you stop at season 3? I cannot believe this.
It's been a really busy summer, so I haven't had time to even watch more Columbo, let alone review it. I would like to continue the series, just not sure when that will happen. I'm glad you've enjoyed the first few videos though!
Normally I´m into sci-fi, horror and fantasy movies - at least, when they are good movies. But for some reason I simply love this period drama! There are very few to equal its ... authenticity. Fore and foremost its the performances by the two leads - especially Amanda Roots portrayal of the main character - which captivates me and compels me to return to this movie over and over again. For the most parts this adaptation of Janes Austens Persuasion receives favorable reviews, mosty also due to the strong cast performances. But it was in this one I saw those performances reflected upon and highlighted best. So thank You! Very appreciated!
Vivica Scott used some of the cream on her hand. That's where SHE got poison ivy'd. Rigor mortis starts several hours after death, then ends. The body loosens up again. The rest of your comments are straight on.
In Ransom for a Dead Man; they didn't need her fingerprints on the cash. The bank had recorded the serial numbers to catch the "kidnappers" spending it later. They already knew that this money came from the supposed ransom. Her having it and giving it to her step-daughter was proof enough that she staged the kidnapping. The only way to get away with faking a kidnapping, was if her husband WAS dead. Easy conviction.
Bad acting, but the actors are watchable and likeable, if mostly unknown. And Carrie Fisher is radiantly beautiful in a role with zero substance. I liked watching David Soul trying to elevate the material he was given in a really understated way- like he was in on a joke regarding the movie. Piper Laurie- no explanation or excuse for where that performance came from.
Great review. I've watched it now too many times in the last 5 months and what still stands out is how no one phones in their performance, and no one tries to steal the show. All these great actors do their job and act.
This is my favorite Christie adaptation. The tone of the film is just perfect, and I prefer Ustinov to Finney. I found Express to be a it too dull, and I think Evil Under The Sun is too campy. Nile is perfect. Lansbury is amazing, as is the rest of the cast.
Have you seen the film, Gosford Park from 2001? It has a star studded cast, and was nominated for a bunch of awards, though feels like a few Christie/Poirot plotlines were mashed together, be interesting to hear your thoughts, either way, many thanks, your channel inspired me to watch The Ustinov TV movies, and finally begin with David Suchet's adaptations.
Great review, as always. Poirot was not making a face because of the flavor of the ice cream. He was trying to eat said ice cream without it getting into his mustache!
This was the only episode of the "new" Poirot that I really liked. I have always been curious to know how David Suchet felt about the change. What did he like better - the lighter, more humorous earlier episodes or the later darker, edgier, more sexual ones? Does anyone know?
Any Old Port in a Storm is a favorite of mine, Donald Pleasence just sells the character so well. I agree with all your logic-holes in the plot but there's something sympathetic about the Killer whose whole life is his vineyard and wine collection and here his jerk brother tries to ruin it all for some quick cash. Pleasence really manages to evoke a vulnerability, like he's not a bad guy even though he committed a murder, it was to him really self defense. I also like the angle of his assistant that loves him even though he seems incapable of affection and acts cool and stern to her, love can be like that sometimes, not logical but real. The fact that Columbo treats him so kindly at the end is very satisfying, you get the sense that he may not spend forever in prison and that the assistant will be there for him.
OK, before I can even finish the video, I have to say Lovely but Lethal is one of the most confounding Columbo's ever, simply because it had Vincent freaking Price(!) and a youthful Martin Sheen and neither of them are the killer??? How could they pass that up? Ugh... what might have been! A total re-write would have been worth it. It reminds that Leslie Nielsen was in 2 Columbo's but never as a killer, what a great killer he would have been!
Enjoyed this video as well. I personally like The Most Crucial Game more and Robert Culp always makes a good antagonist, I'd have ranked it higher. Dagger of the Mind, Requiem for a Falling Star and the Most Dangerous Match are 3 of the lower ranking episodes for me. Dagger of the Mind mostly puts me to sleep and the 2 killers are just too cartoonish to feel real. Of course, it's still Columbo and therefore watchable. Also, agree about how good Dabney Coleman is with Peter Falk, wish they made him a recurring character. Etude in Black, A Stitch in Crime and Double Shock are all pretty great.
